Peacock Ink (Murakkabi ṭāvūsī or Muṭavvas)

Ingredients

lamp black, gum Arabic, green vitriol, gall nut extract, water, marcasite, copper, verdigris, lapis lazuli, green walnut husks, henna, indigo, woad, myrtle, saffron, cinnabar, aloe vera, gold, silver, brass, liquid amber, sandarac, camel thorn, dog rose extract, epithymum, coral, rose water, chicory extract, musk, salt, rock sugar/candy, sal ammoniac

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Peacock ink is a variation of the carbo-tannate ink category (p. 6). Proportions for carbo-tannate ink are described in poetry as one part lamp black (soot) to one part vitriol, two parts gall nuts, and four parts gum Arabic (p. 5). Lamp black is collected from burning oil under an earthen container, then baked in a furnace wrapped in paper and dough to remove residue oil (p. 12). Walnut husks are beaten and boiled for a long time; ideally fermented in water for two years to maximize dark brown color (p. 13). Indigo indigotin dye is extracted by submerging leaves and branches in water for 24 hours followed by air oxidation (p. 14). Gum Arabic is used as a binding medium to disperse colorants and prevent precipitation (p. 16). Thickening agents like camel thorn, dog rose extract, or coral are added to adjust viscosity (p. 17). Glossing agents such as sugar, honey, or Egyptian sugar candy are added for shine (p. 19).

Evidence

"Peacock ink, known as Murakkabi ṭāvūsī, was created and used by Persian master calligraphers especially from the 14th century onwards. It is a sub-category of Persian ink which contains four main ingredients: lamp black, gum Arabic, green vitriol (ferrous sulphate) and gall nut extract (tannic acid)."

Remarks

The name 'Peacock' (Ṭāvūsī) derives from the range of different colored materials added to the ink and its characteristic blue-green undertone (p. 1). It is highly valued for its permanence and resistance to water and abrasion (p. 1). The paper categorizes the 31 identified ingredients into seven categories: colourants, binding mediums, mordants, aromatics, thickening agents, glossing agents, and preservatives (p. 9). Secondary ingredients like saffron, gold, and silver were added by master calligraphers to perfect the ink's aesthetic and chemical properties (p. 6, 15). Expert advice from master calligrapher Keikhosrow Khoroush suggests that the medicinal knowledge of ingredients influenced ink makers (p. 10).